Mo Ostin's family was Jewish and fled Russia during the Russian Revolution.
16 Facts About Mo Ostin
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Mo Ostin attended Fairfax High School, before studying economics at the University of California, Los Angeles.
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Mo Ostin subsequently commenced studies at the UCLA School of Law, but ultimately dropped out to support his family.
4.
Mo Ostin began his career in the mid-1950s as comptroller at Clef Records, a record company started by Norman Granz, brother of friend and neighbor, Irving Granz.
5.
The first rock act Mo Ostin signed to Reprise was the Kinks.
6.
Mo Ostin signed Jimi Hendrix in the spring of 1967 based on hearing "Hey Joe", then was amazed after seeing him perform at the Monterey Pop Festival.
7.
Mo Ostin was noted for giving artists creative freedom and creating a company geared towards artists, attributing this outlook to his time with Sinatra.
8.
Mo Ostin later recounted how he trusted Prince to the point where he would only listen to his music once it was completed.
9.
Mo Ostin was instrumental in the acquisition of the independent Elektra label by Warner Communications, as well as the subsequent formation of WEA Corporation and WEA International.
10.
Mo Ostin left Warner acrimoniously in 1994 after they requested that he slash his payroll, turning down their offer of a three-year extension.
11.
Mo Ostin described the situation as "the toughest thing I've ever been through in the business", adding that "it shook [him] to the core".
12.
In 2003, Mo Ostin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Paul Simon, Neil Young, and Lorne Michaels.
13.
Mo Ostin sat on the board of visitors for the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, and supported the UCLA Center for the Art of Performance.
14.
Mo Ostin was married to Evelyn for 55 years until her death in 2005.
15.
Mo Ostin died in his sleep on July 31,2022, at the age of 95.
16.
From 1987 until his death, Mo Ostin was the owner of the modernist Wave House in Malibu, California.